Committee approves "Distraction‑Free Education" bill to restrict personal devices for K–8; sponsors add implementation timeline

The House education committee approved HB340 (LC492272S), the "Distraction‑Free Education Act," which would bar most personal Internet‑connected devices during the school day for students in kindergarten through eighth grade and direct local school systems to adopt policies implementing the restriction.

The sponsor described the bill as a local‑control framework with state guardrails: the restriction applies bell to bell for K–8 students (not high school), excludes students covered by Section 504 plans and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and does not apply to virtual schools or to school‑issued devices. "Texting while learning is probably just as bad," the sponsor said, noting studies cited in committee that show extended on‑device time correlates with lost instructional focus and other harms. The sponsor cited teacher surveys and research suggesting students take about 23 minutes to refocus after checking a phone and argued the change could reduce bullying and mental‑health school visits while improving academic outcomes.

Committee members debated local control, how to treat extracurricular/co‑curricular activities and field trips, disciplinary consistency across schools in a district, and an implementation timeline. Legislative counsel and members described an approach that requires local boards to adopt policies consistent with the statute while tailoring details to local circumstances.

Members offered and adopted a friendly amendment adjusting the timeline: each local school system must adopt policies by January 1, 2026, and statewide implementation must begin no later than July 1, 2026. The amendment was read into the record and carried. The bill also explicitly excludes students with 504 plans or IEPs and excludes virtual schools from the ban. After final discussion and a voice vote, the committee approved HB340 as amended.